I really like the style of music Donald Black plays. Was wondering if anyone knows if he plays an octave or tremolo harp, the make, and if he retunes which keys best produce the accordian sound.Bit tough to find information on this style of play .thanks
Donald mostly plays Hohner double-side Echo tremolos. I've not known him to play octave harps, but he does play standard 10-hole diatonics and a little chromatic.
The "accordion sound" is about the same in any key. It's a function of the tremolo reed being tuned a little sharp of the main reed. Hohners tend to have the tremolo reed tuned sharper in relation to the main reed than do Asian tremolos (Suzuki, Tombo) with a resulting rougher (or "wetter") tremolo
I think Donald has told me which reeds he retunes but I must have forgotten. My guess would be lowering one or two of the notes in the bottom octave, where notes are missing and where bending, at least on a tremolo, is not the best option (you can do it by isolating the top or bottom row of reeds, but then you lose the tremolo sonority and the note stands out as different even more than a bent note on a single-reed harp). Another option would be lowering the 7th degree of the scale to sound a little more like pipes while playing in first position. But this is speculation. I think there's a contact address on his website, and you could ask him.
Gland to see the buddha's groove forum getting some mention.
Donald Black harmonica tunings
Donald Black harmonica tunings
I really like the style of music Donald Black plays. Was wondering if anyone knows if he plays an octave or tremolo harp, the make, and if he retunes which keys best produce the accordian sound.Bit tough to find information on this style of play .thanks
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by blitzen
Re: Donald Black harmonica tunings
If you've already read this, http://www.dblack-scotharmonica.fsnet.co.uk/donald-black.htm
maybe you should ask here, http://www.thebuddhasgroove.com/buddhaforum/forum.asp?$sid=&id=32
# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by ʎɹoʇısuɐɹʇ
Re: Donald Black harmonica tunings
Donald mostly plays Hohner double-side Echo tremolos. I've not known him to play octave harps, but he does play standard 10-hole diatonics and a little chromatic.
The "accordion sound" is about the same in any key. It's a function of the tremolo reed being tuned a little sharp of the main reed. Hohners tend to have the tremolo reed tuned sharper in relation to the main reed than do Asian tremolos (Suzuki, Tombo) with a resulting rougher (or "wetter") tremolo
I think Donald has told me which reeds he retunes but I must have forgotten. My guess would be lowering one or two of the notes in the bottom octave, where notes are missing and where bending, at least on a tremolo, is not the best option (you can do it by isolating the top or bottom row of reeds, but then you lose the tremolo sonority and the note stands out as different even more than a bent note on a single-reed harp). Another option would be lowering the 7th degree of the scale to sound a little more like pipes while playing in first position. But this is speculation. I think there's a contact address on his website, and you could ask him.
Gland to see the buddha's groove forum getting some mention.
Winslow
# Posted on April 4th 2006 by Winslow Yerxa
Re: Donald Black harmonica tunings
thanks Winslow, I have listened to you on the Buddha's Grove site really great playing. blitzen
# Posted on April 5th 2006 by blitzen